High gas prices and a potent turbocharged engine drive V6 sales for Ford's best seller

What good is a big ‘old domestic full-size pickup truck without
a V8 engine under the hood? Half-ton pickups and V8 engines go together like
peanut butter and jelly or Smith & Wesson. But with gas
prices putting the squeeze on many consumers, those who can actually afford
to purchase brand new vehicles are trying to be more economical.

We already reported in late April that Ford is seeing
incredible demand for its new EcoBoost V6 engine in the Ford F-150. Reports
pegged the EcoBoost V6 engine option as taking
36 percent of all F-150 sales.

However, that figure jumped to 41 percent for the month of
May. In addition, the 3.7-liter V6 engine option captured 14 percent, bringing
the total haul for V6 engines to over half of all F-150 sales for the month.

According
to PickupTrucks.com, the
increasing interest in Ford's V6 engine options should come as no surprise
given the current state of gas pries in the United States. However, the
phenomena is still amazing when you consider that the take rate for V6 engines
in competing Toyota Tundra and GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado full size pickups
is in the single-digit range.

Ford’s
3.7-liter V6 engine generates 300hp @ 6,500 rpm and 275 lb-ft of torque at
4,500 rpm. It is EPA rated at 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. The
popular EcoBoost V6 makes 365hp @ 5,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at a low
2,500 rpm. It has EPA ratings of 16/22.

Both engines run on regular unleaded gasoline, which is a plus
with high gasoline prices.

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Not sure what all the buzz is about. I have a 1997 Ford f150 4.6 liter V8 that gets a combined 17.5 mpg. I have read the combined of theV6 is around 18. After all this time this is the best they can do? Chevy has a hybrid 1500 silverado that gets either 23 or 21 combined with a 6.0 liter v8. Seems like Ford is missing the mark.

Big deal 6000 pounds is a lot of towing. I would not knock a 21 to 23 mpg hybrid Chevy 1500 because it tows over 6000 pounds, unless you are going to be using it for towing more than that. Most people will never use that much. Most people get a truck because of the bed and the utility, not towing huge loads.If you want huge towing power most people.step up to 2500 or 3500 models.Chevy is on the right track, those electric motors are great and powerful and they don't need to be plugged in. I can't wait to see what they have 5 years from now. Hopefully they will press on quickly.

I'm not knocking the Chevy. It's a great truck if you do not require the towing capacity. If you do, the ecoboost is a viable, and very attractive option, while the Chevy hybrid is not, and that's the point.